Switch.



' No. 847,925. PATENTED MA R.19, 1907.

A. L. EUSTIGE.

SWITCH.

APILIGATIOH TILED AUG-15. 1906.

I 499ml ALFRED L. EUSTICE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWETCH.

Specificancn of Letters Patent. 1

Patented March 19, 1907.

Application filed August 15, 1906. Serial No. 330,729.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. EUSTIOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the follow-- ing is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in switches for electric circuits, comprehending specifically a time-switch wherein means are provided for automatically operating the switch proper at a predetermined time.

The main object of the present invention is the production of time-controlled mechanism constructed and arranged to automatically deliverthe movable member of the switch proper to the influence of a mechanical actuating means, whereby said movable member may be operated to make or break the circuit.

Another object of the invention is the utilition of the time. mechanism to break the relay circuit, whereby the relay circuit is dead when broken and arcing at the break is avoided.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a time-controlled switch constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 8, a detail elevation illustrating the time-controlled means for making and breaking the relay-circuit Fig. 1, a modified means for operating the movable member of the switch proper.

Referring particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference-numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, my improved time-controlledswitch is mounted upon an insulated base 1, to which is secured points 2 of the line-terminals 3, the serviceterminals 4 being in the form of the usual blades 5, pivotally supported on the base 1 and designed to engage the points 2 to complete the circuit, the blades 5 being preferably connected at their relatively upper or free terminals by an insulated cross-bar 6, which is secured to an operating-handle 8.

The parts described constitute the ordinary form of knife-switch and will need no further detail description herein.

The timing mechanism 9 may be of an usual or preferred construction, though in order to provide a simple means for this purpose I arrange within a clock-casing having the usual dial 10. a gear 11, mounted upon an arbor 12, which extends through the face of the dial and carries a hand 13, corresponding to the usual hour-hand of the clock, it being understood that the usual mechanism (notshown) is provided for driving the gear 11 to cause the ordinary movement of the hourhandthat is, a complete revolution of the clock-dial in each twelve hours. The minute hand 14 may also be provided, if desired, being suitably driven by the usual clock mechanism, though this is not absolutely essential to the operation of the structure.

Above the main arbor 12 in the time mechanism is mounted the setting-arbor 15, the relatively forward end of which is provided with a pointer 16, arranged for travel on an auxiliary dial 17, also correspondingly num bered to the main dial. Loosely mounted on the setting-arbor is a gear 18, arranged to mesh at all times with the gear 11 on the main arbor. The gear 18 is formed with a relatively fixed sleeve extension 19, against which a leaf-spring 20 is designed to bear.

The spring is secured at its lower end in a clock-casing and projects at its upper end in an opening therein for a purpose which will later appear. On the setting-arbor 15 in advance of the gear 18 is a cam-disk 21, formed in the surface adjacent the gear 18 with a recess 22, the gear 18 being provided with a forwardly-projecting pin 28, designed to enter the-recess 22 in the cam-disk when in register with said recess. The pin 23 projects from the surface of the gear within the plane of the camdisk, so that for the greater portion of the revolution of the gear said pin bears upon the plane surface of the disk. The recess 22 is formed with a relatively forward abrupt wall, the bottom wall of the recess curvingfrom said abrupt wall toward and terminating in coincidence with the plane surface of the disk. By this arrangement the pin by entering the recess at the abrupt wall end thereof permits an independent movement of the gear 18 longitudinally of the arbor commensurate with the depth of the recess, the further revolution of the gear 18 serving to gradually space said gear the normal d stance from the disk as the pin 18 rides out of the recess along the curved bottom wall thereof.

The spring 20 is normally-that is, when the gear and disk are spaced apart under tension and operates to force the gear toward the disk when the pin 01 the gear registers with the recess in the disk.

In conjunction with the timing ap mratus I utilize a relay including an electromagnet 24-, having a movable core 25, the electro magnet-conductors 26 and 27 leading, in the instance illustrated, to and arranged. in electrical connection with the service-conductors a. One of the relay-coiuluctors, as 26, terininatcs above the clock-casing in. a carbon contact-block 28, preferably supported. on the insulated base 29, secured to the casing. The other section of the conductor 26, which leads to one of the service-conductors t, is connected to the carbon block 30, similar to the block 28, and connected to the relatively upper or free end 01 the spring 20 oi the timing mechanism. The mechanism so far de scribed, therefore, provides for the normal separation of the relay-circuit terminals 28 and 30, it being understood that the arrangenient o'l' par is such that when the pin 23 of the gear 18 is in contact with the plane surface oi the cam-disk 21 said gear is so disposed upon the arbor 15 as to hold the spring 20 at the 1Gtl\\"21-1'tl.llln'lt o'l movement, thereby separating the contact-blocks 28 and 30, and that when the pin 23 registers with the recess 22 in the cam-disk the spring 20 operates to force the gear 1.8 longitudinally of the arbor, with the eflect to move the block 30 into electrical contact with the block 28, thereby closing the relay-circuit at this point.

A cylindrical casing 31 is secured to the base 1 immediately in rear of and in alinement with the cross-bar 6 ol the movable switch member when the latter is in. operative or closed position. Within the casing is mounted a piston 32, spring-pressed in a relatively outward direction through the medium of a coil-spring 33, disposed between the piston and the base 1. A stem 34 is connected to the piston. 32, projecting through the forward wall of the casing and operating in a path traversed by the cross-bar 6 of the switch-blades when the latter is in operative position. The stem 34 is of such length that when the switch-blades are in operative position said stem will be engaged by the crossbar of the blades and forced inward, with the effect to compress the spring The spring 33 is of such tension as to readily disconnect the blades from their operative engagement with the points 2 in the absence of means for securing said blades in position, and therefore in order to hold switch closed I provide a trip-lever 35, pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the base 1, with the set/3925 relative inner end upwardly turned to pro vide a latch end 36, adapted in the normal position of the trip-lever to engage the recess 37, formed in the lower surface of the cross-bar 6. It will thus be seen that with the switch closed the cross-bar 6 engages the latch end of the trip-lever to prevent (liseonnection or breaking of the switch, the normal position of said cross-bar operating, as previously stated, to maintain the spring 33 under tension.

The electromagnet 24. is preferably dis Posed at one side ol the movable member of the switch, the core 25 thereot being in aline ment with the relatively outer or free end ol" the trip-lever. The core 25 is provided with a reduced rod-like extension 39, adapted when the core is withdrawn within the field of the electromagnet by the energization thereof to engage and elevate the tree end ot the trip-lever, with the ell'ect to withdraw the latch end from the recess 37 ol the crossarn' ol the blades, permitting the spring 33 to operate the piston 32 and stem 34. and force the movable member ol the switch fron'r engagement with the points 2, thereby breaking the switch.

The operation ol the parts ot the improved time-cont1olling switch will be readily appar ent from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, it being understood that the arbor is manually operated through a handle 4.0 to set the pointer 16 at the time desired tor the automatic operation of the switch. This movement oi the arbor properly disposes the recess 21 in the camplatc. As the gear 11. revolves the pin 23 of the gear 18 will register with the recess 21 when the hand controlled by the gear 1] reaches the time indicated on the auxiliary dial. This movement closes the relz'ty-circuit, energizes the electromagnet, and operates the core 25, with. the ell'ect previously stated. After the automatic breaking ol the switch, as described, the continued revolution of the gear 1] will gradually space the gear 18 the normal distance from the cam-disk, with the e'l'l'ect to force the spring in. a relatively rearward direction, and thereby separate the contact-blocks 2S and 30. The relay-circuit is thus broken. The core drops to normal position, permitting automatic engagement of the trip-lever with the cross-bar of the switch-blade upon the succeeding manual operation of the blade.

As illustrated, the device is arranged for the automatic breaking of the switch at a predetermined time, and in this connection it is to be noted that the relay-circuit is connected with the serviee-conductors. In this arrangement of the p arts the switch is broken some time previous to the breaking of the relay-circuit by the separation of the blocks 28 and 30, so that the relay-circuit at the time of the separation of said cont act-blocks is dead, and therefore no arcing occurs upon the separation of said blocks.

The relay-circuit of the improved switch is placed directly across the main line and is adapted to be energized through current derived directly from the current of the main line, it being understood that in the event of a heavy service the relay-circuit is to include such resistance as will provide just'suflicient field strength in the electromagnet to operate the core.

It s of course obvious that, if desired, the switch may be arranged for closing the circuit instead of breaking it, in which event the operating-spring will be connected to move the blades of the switch proper into engagement with the points, the trip-lever being normally disposed to maintain the blades from such movement. In this disposition of the parts the relay-circuit will of course be connected to the line conductors 3.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a slightly-modified form of blade-throwing means, in which 40 represents a spring terminally secured to one of the blades 5 and to the base 1, the spring being preferably coiled to give the desired tension. In this form the spring of course is tensioned in the closing movement of the blades and is of suflicient force to break the switch when the triplever 35 is operated.

While showing and describing the detailed constructions in cooperation with a simple form of knife-switch, it is obvious that the de vice is readily applicable with obvious mechanical changes to any form of switch ineluding a movable member.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination witha switch including a movable member, of spring-actuated means for moving the member in one direction, a locking-lever normally holding the member against the influence of the actuating means, a solenoid having the core thereof operative in the path of the lever, a circuit for energizing the solenoid to project the core into contact with the lever for operating the latter to release the switch member, and time-controlled means for closing the solenoid-circuit,

for energizing the solenoid to project the core p into contact with the lever for operating the latter to release the switch member, and timecontrolled means for closing the solenoid-circuit, said solenoid-circuit being energized from the load side of the switch, whereby said solenoid circuit is .denergized upon the breaking of the switch.

3. The combination with a switch including a movable member, of spring-actuated means for moving the member in one direction, a pivoted lever having one end arranged to normally engage a recess in the movable member, a solenoid including a movable core arranged in the path of the opposite end of the lever and adapted to engage said end upon energization of the solenoid, conductors leading to the solenoid, one of said conductors including a fixed contact and a movable contact, a time-controlled mechanism including a manually-operable cam-disk formed with a recess, a gear in mesh with the timingapparatus train and freely movable to and from the cam-disk, a pin carried by said gear and arranged to bear upon the surface of the cam-disk and enter the recess when alined therewith, and a spring-arm holding the gear under tension and carrying at its upper end the movable contact of the solenoid-con ductor, whereby said spring operates to force the gear-pin into the recess in the cam-plate and simultaneously effect the engagement of the contacts in the solenoid-circuit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED L. EUSTICE.

Witnesses:

I. F. MOORE, ALBERT L. CAULKINs. 

